Coin-controlled machinery



(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 1. W. H. DUTTON. COIN CONTROLLED MACHINERY.-

N0. 484,908. Patented 0013. 25, 1892.

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

W. H. BUTT ON. COIN CONTROLLED MACHINERY.

No. 484,908. Patented Oct. 25, 1892.

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(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 3.

W. H. BUTTON. GOIN GONTROLLEDMAGHINERY.

No. 484,908. Patented. Oct. 25, 1892.

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.1 ATTORNEYS,

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

W. H. BUTTON. COIN CONTROLLED MACHINERY.

l n a I n n n u n 1 a a n u a UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WVILLIAM H. DUTTON, OF ROCHESTER, ASSIGNOR TO THE BUFFALO AUTO- MATIC MACHINE COMPANY, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

COIN-CONTROLLED MACHINERY.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 484,908, dated October 25, 1892.

Application filed January 2, 1 8 92- To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM H. DUTTON, of Rochester,in the county of Monroe,in the State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Coin-Controlled Machinery, of which the following, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to coin-controlled machinery, and has forits object the production of a simple and effective device for supplying the public with stamps upon the insertion of the proper coin.

To this end it consists, essentially, in an outer casing; a chute or feeding-guide within the casing having movable therein a series of pamphlets or other desired article, each containing or carrying a single stamp; a coinchute having a series of spurs on its inner wall for rolling the inserted coin; a movable plunger at the base of the pamphlet-chute or feeding-guide for successively dischargingthe pamphlets therefrom; a lever for preventing the movement of the plungerinto the chute; a coin-support beneath the coin-chute for rocking the lever out of engagement with the plunger; asecond lever for preventing retrograde movement of the plunger, and an arm on the coin-support for rocking the second lever out of operative position.

The invention, furthermore, consists in the detail construction and arrangement of the parts, all as hereinafter more particularly described, and pointed out in the claims.

In describing this invention reference is had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which like letters indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 represents an isometric perspective of my invention mounted upon a suitable support. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 2 2, Fig.1. Fig. Sis a horizontal sectional view taken on line 3 3, Fig. 2, representing the discharge-plungers. Fig. 4 is a similar View to Fig. 3, showing both of the feeding-guides for the pamphlets removed and one of the plungers as in its extreme rearward or inner position, assumed when one of the pamphlets is discharged thereby. Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail sectional view repre Serial No. 416,783- (No model.)

senting the lower end of the pamphlet-chute or feeding-guide, the support beneath the same, the discharge-plunger, the lower end of the vertical coin supports, the horizontal coin-support, and the levers for engaging the discharge-plunger, said plunger and coin-support being shown in their normal position and a portion of the vertical supports being broken out for illustrating one of the plunger-engaging levers. Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5, with the exception that the lower end of the vertical coin-supports is shown entirely by dotted lines, and a coin (represented bydotted lines) is shown as having depressed the horizontal coin-support and released from the plunger the lever for pre venting rearward or inner movement thereof. Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 6, with the eX- eeption that the lever for preventing retrograde movement of the plunger is shown as engaged therewith. Fig. 8 is a View similar to Fig. 7, representing the horizontal coinsupport as forced to its extreme rearward position and the depending arm thereon as just on the point of disengagement from the arm on the plunger for elevating the leverfor preventing rearward movement of the plunger. Fig. 9 is an edge View, partly in section, of the detached coin-chute and the vertical and horizontal coin-supports beneath the chute. Fig. 10 is an elevation, partly in section, of the parts as shown at Fig. 9. Fig. 11 is a detached detail view of the movable plate for closing the coin-inlet opening. Fig. 12 is an isometric detail sectional View, taken on line 12 12, Fig. 5, for representing the edge of the discharge-plunger; and Fig. 13 is an isometric perspective of one of the detached open pamphlets, showing the stamp in position therein.

My present invention is intended to supply a long-felt demand for a convenient, practical, and easily-operated coin-controlled machine for supplying persons with stamps when for various reasons their usual supply is exhausted and a sales agent is not conveniently near.

A represents the outer casing, which is of any desirable form, size, and construction,

and is provided at the rear, Fig. 2, with a movable wall ct, hinged at its lower edge at a, and

secured in position. by any suitable construc tion of lock a Bis a chute or feedingguide removably supported within the casing A in any desirable manner, as by screws 1).

Within the chute B are anumber of pamphlets any other suitable-support capable of carrying the stamps singly may be used;

My only reason for using pamphlets is that" I further-increase the income-from the ma-; chine I ,by printing advertising matter .upon

the leaves thereof.

As readilyseen at Figs. 3 and t, I have showntwo chutes or feeding-guides for the pamphlets, one-cent stamps beingiplaced within the pamphlets in one of the chutes and two-cent stamps within the pamphlets in the other chute. It is evident, however, thatone orany number of chutes B may be used, if desired.

DD areplungers movable-beneaththe open base ofthe chutes for discharging the pamphlets successively therefrom upon ;a guide E forconducting the same to chambers c e, opening at thefront of the machine. plungers D D are preferably mounted-upona support F, andeach is formed .with a depending rib' d, Fig. 12, movable'in away (1 inthe supportD; Above the support F are spring-supports F F, each consisting of acy-- lindricalcase having a longitudinal'slot f at its front extremity. Within this case isa. spiral spring F having its free end adaptedto bear against a laterally-extendingarm D', which is formed upon the adjacent discharge plunger D, is movable within aslot f in the spring-support F, and is provided with a rear wardlyeextending lug D, Fig. 12, passed within the end of the spiral spring.

Upon an'examination of the foregoing.

drawings it will be noted that the dischargeplungers DD are movableback-ward and forward within and without a perpendicular to M the forward inner wall-of the chute B B-for permittingthe pamphlet next. above said plunger to feed 'upon the support F, in -posi-. tion for discharge when the plunger is moved backwardly within the plane of the aforesaid perpendicular.

At the forward or outer edge of the dischargeplunger is an arm D provided with teeth (1 having their rear or inner faces 01 substantially vertical and their front faces (1 inclined forwardly Extending forwardly from the arm D is the plunger-rod D having its free extremity projecting beyond the front wall of the outer casing A andprovided with ahand-engaging portion D G represents a lever pivoted at its central 7o portion'upon a rod g, having its opposite extremities supported by a central bracket or support g, and oppositely-arranged brackets or supports on the inner facesof the opposite side walls A A of the outer casing A. The rear end or bar g of this rod is of sufficient weight to drop downwardly into engagement with the teeth d Figs. 3, 4, and 5, for preventing rearward or inward movement of the plunger. to discharge the stamp-containing pamphlets.

Upon the forward end of the lever G is the horizontal coin-support Glfmovable between vertical coin-supports I-I","present-ly described. As the coin feeds down the chute I, also presently described, and betweentheverticalsupports H, it encounters thehorizontal support G and depresses the sameintothe position shown at Fig.6, thus elevating the rear end g of the lever G out of engagement with'the teeth 01 upon the plunger and permitting the plunger to move'backwardly, as shownat Figs. 7 and8. As the coin descends down the chute I, presently described its momentum-would suddenly depressthe horizontal coin-support without permitting 'the operation-of theparts ofimy invention; but'this undesirable result is obviated byaforwardly-extending arm l) on the discharge-plunger, whioh'engagesthe coin-support after the same has moved tothe position shown at" Fig.

I J represents a leverhinged at j to a bracket,

J upon the innerface of the front wall A ofthe'outer casing A, withits free endheld by said plunger-rod when the same is moved inwardly- -or backwardly, as shown "at F'igr7,

thus preventing return movement of the planger until'thesame is forced inwardly or backwardly to its extreme limit,as shown at Fig. 8.

Upon, the lever G is an arm G whichiisadapted to engage a laterally-extendinglug j'upon the lever=Jandelevate-the:1everJ out of engagement with the teethd to"per-- mit the-forward movement of-the plunger after *its extreme inward movement: This engagement of 'the arm'G with'thexlug j takes place only after the plunger has been moved inwardly to its extreme limit and is,

the lever J in engagement with the vteeth d upontheplunger-rod, and by dotted lines at said figure and full lines at Figs. 3, 4,'and12' I have shown a'lug d upon the plunger-rod" D flwhich engages a depending arm G hinged at'g to the lever'Gyand rocks the leverG backwardly for dischargingthe coin therefrom and into engagement with a spring K,-

which is designed toforcibly return said-la ver to its normal position and is supported in proximity to the lever G with one end secured to the front wall A of the outer casing and the other arranged above the rear extremity g of the lever G. The discharged coin passes downwardly into movable drawers A A ,Fig. 2, ar-' ranged beneath the horizontal coin-supports G G and adapted to be held in posit-ion by suitable locks A not necessary to herein illus trate or describe. The rocking movement of the lever G continues until the lug d is moved beyond the end of the depending arm G and at Fig. 8 I have shown the parts in their position assumed when said lug d is just on the point of passing from engagement with the arm G and it will be noted upon reference to said figure that the free end of the spring K is then forced upwardly beyond its normal position. (Illustrated at Figs. 5, 6, and 7.) It is therefore evident that the instant the lug d passes the end of the arm G the spring K aforesaid quickly returns the lever G to its normal position and the arm G of the lever G engages the lug j of the lever .I and elevates said lever .I, so as to prevent engagementof the teeth (1 by said lever J upon the return movement of the plunger. It will be evident that the lug d readily passes on its return movement beyond the lever G, as said lever is hinged and its upper end rounded for permitting the lever to swing forwardly, although said lever is prevented from backward movement by the engagement of its rear edge with the shoulder g upon the lever G, Figs. 3, 4, and 8. It is thus evident that the plunger D is prevented from rearward or inward movement unless the proper coin has depressed the horizontal coin-support G, and that after the depression of said coin the plunger is not free to return unless it is passed first to its extreme limit, that it is then prevented from further inward movement after the teeth d have passed beneath the rear end g of the lever G, and that until the teeth (1 have so passed beneath said lever end 9 the rear end of the discharge-plunger D is within the pamphlet-feeding chute or guide and prevents the pamphlet next above the same from feeding upon the support F in position for discharge by the plunger D.

The coin-chute I may be of any desirable form, size, and construction, but is preferably composed of two separable plates I I is formed of greater width than thickness, and is provided on the inner faces of its narrow sides with a series of projectingv lugs 1 arranged alternately with each other for causing the coin to roll when passing down the chute, thus preventing the retraction of coins secured to a string and lessening the momentum of the coin.

Just beneath the exit 1' of the coin-chute is the tapered pocket 1'' for arranging the coin vertically, and just beneath said tapered pocket onopposite sides of the horizontal coin-support G when in its normal position are the vertical coin-supports H for holding the coin in a vertical position. At the upper end of these vertical supports are inwardlyinclining shoulders h for centering the coin when between said supports. The upper end of the coin-chute is open at i and registers with an inlet-opening L.

. In order that the user may be prevented from placing money within the machine when the pamphlets within the chute B are exhausted, I provide a cut-oh plate L, hinged at Z on the inner face of the front wall A of the outer shell, with its lower end adapted to be moved over the coin-entering aperture L. A suitable connection Z is secured to the upper end of the lever L, passed over guides or pulleys Z Z and is connected to a weight or traveler Z movable within the chute C.

The operation of my invention will be readily perceived from the foregoing description and upon reference to the parts, and it will be particularlynoted that the same is simple, effective, and extremely practical and supplies a long-felt want for a device of this character. It is evident, however, that the detail, construction, and arrangement of the parts of my invention may be somewhat varied from that shown and described. Hence I do not herein wish to limit myself to such precise detail construction and arrangement.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In combination, a coin-chute having an exit, vertical coin-supports II, having at their upper extremities inwardly-inclining shoulders h h for centering the coin between said supports, and a support G for the coin, supported normally beneath the shoulders h, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In combination, a coin-chute having an exit, vertical coin-supports H, having at their upper extremities inwardly-inclining shoulders h h for centering the coin between said supports, and a pivoted support G, having oneextremity normallysupported betweenthe supports H and beneath the inclining shoulders h h and movable away from and between said shoulders h h, substantially as described.

3. The combination of a support, aplunger guidedon the face of said support and formed with engaging teeth, a hollow spring-case mounted on said support at one side of the plunger and provided with a longitudinal slot in its wall, a spring within the spring'support, a projecting arm on the plunger movable in said slot and engaged by the spring, a coinchute, and a hinged lever having one end adapted to engage the teeth of the'plunger and prevent rearward or inner movement thereof and the other provided with a coinsupport in the path of the coin, whereby the coin automatically depresses the coin-support and disengages the opposite end of the lever from the said teeth for permitting movement of the plunger against the action of the spring within said case, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

4. The combination of a movable plunger having engaging teeth, a lever J, having one end adapted to engagethe plunger-teethfor preventing retrograde movement thereof, a

second lever formed with" coin support with which the coin is adapt-ed to engage for rocking the lever downwardly, and an arm'on the latter 'lever d'etaehably engaging the former lever for normally rocking-the same out of engagement with the plunger-teeth," substantially as and for thepurpose' hereindescribed.

5. The combination of a movableplunger having engagingteeth, a lever J,having on'e and adapted to engage the plunger-teethfor preventing retrograde movement thereof; a"

second leverformedwitha coin-stippqrt with which the coinisadapted to engage forrock ing the leverdownwardly, and an arm on said lever detachably engaging the former 'lever for normally rocking the same outof engage ment with the plunger-teeth; and a spring; supported within the' casing and-arranged with one end "diseonnectedfrom the second lever and arrangedin the path of movement of said lever for retur'ning'thesa'me to its normal position, whereupon said f-lever forces the former leverout of engagement Within the plunger, substantially as and for thepur'pose described.

6. The 'combination, witha casing of a movable plunger having one end projecting beyond said casing, a series'of teeth'on the plunger," a pivoted lever havingonaend adapted to engage the teeth and preventrear-' ward or inner movement of theplunger and the other provided with aeoin-support,whereby the lever is disengaged from the teeth upon the plunger'to permit said movement thereof, a second hinged lever for engaging the plunger "and preventing returnmovement thereof, and an arm on'theforr'ner hinged leverfor elevatingsaid second hinged 1miout of operativeposition; substantially as and for the purpose desoribed.

7. The combination of a movableplnhger, a springin proximity tosaid plunger, a hinged lever having'one end adapted to'engage the plunger and prevent retrograde "movement thereof, ase'cond hinged lever having'a coin-' support thereon, a'depehding arm 'on'tlie' second lever,and an arm on 'the plu nger for engag-ing the" depending arm and forcing -'said substantially as and for 'the purpose set forth. a In" testimony whereof I have hereunto testing witnesses'at Rochester,in'the county" of Monroe, in the Stateof New Yorkfthis 8th day of Deoember,1891."

WILntAM H. DUTToN. Witnesses:

HAMPDEN HYDE, RoY C. WEBSTER. 

